holiday touches

 I went to Costco yesterday for some peppermint bark and a lot more sugar which I do NOT need. I saw the ugly Grinch there but actually the other shoppers and staff were all friendly and nice. We love that Costco is suing the Trump administration, of course. 

like a bird on a wire

 I snapped this photo yesterday before sunset because the crows were all lined up there on the right. This city has magical light this time of year, in my opinion, and that is one of the reasons artists flock (get it?) here. This Leonard Cohen song from 1969 has always appealed to me:

Like a bird on the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free
Like a worm on a hook
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee

there is work to do

 I need to get busy watching these nominations, which I was going to print out and drop in here for you, but I do not have time this morning, so you will need to do your own research. In the meantime, the fun ceremony will be on Sunday, January 11th, 5pm, and this is already in my 2026 calendar. 

we love the aroma

 I bought some overpriced green sprigs (technically probably little branches) to bring the smell of the holidays into our home since I don't DO the tree anymore. Annabelle was a bit too appreciative and I keep an eye on her after watching all the fun videos of cats and xmas trees on Instagram.

my writing life

 Sis gave me this delightful book which I am loving so much. I have been writing on an almost daily basis now for 25 plus years. This past week I wrote with Chef Sarah up in Napa. We can and do write freely with one another and I treasure her friendship. She said I could use her paragraph here and I do so because it expresses my feelings so perfectly. (Tiapos is the name of our writing group, as you may remember: This is a piece of shit.) Sarah's writing is definitely not, while mine often is. Here from Sarah Scott:

All this made me appreciate all the years with Jane and Tiapos up to the present and the format of reading with an emphasis on positive feedback and never telling someone what to do or how to do it. The generosity of fellow writers listening, considering with care, commenting with finesse, wisdom and mostly kindness is a precious gift. It provides a safe space to share imperfect, intimate, newborn writing. 

 

 

animal world

 I did some dog sitting for Jen and Stacie's two rascals (Charli and Birdie) yesterday afternoon and that worked out well as a delicious tuna sandwich was included in the deal. Then last night Lynn next door (who is visiting from Puerto Rico) brought me yummy miso soup. Annabelle adores Lynn and managed to knock her coat to the floor and snuggle there which is unusual behavior for my cat, but sweet for sure.

catch this documentary

 Mariska Hargitay has always been a favorite actor of mine, mostly from all her work on Law & Order. My Mom Jayne is very well done, in my opinion. The interviews with her brothers and sisters tell us so much and of course the shocking death of her glamorous and talented mother, Jayne Mansfield. This is on HBO Max and I think it will win awards in 2026. Ah, family.

books are back downtown

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 Ah, nice. The Best Bookstore has opened at 226 Powell Street in Union Square. Small, warm and friendly and already busy. I had a chat with the owner and I certainly wish him well. The shelf labels were all still hand written and he was still stocking, but everyone, please support all bookstores everywhere.

across the famous bridge

 Yesterday I met four friends for lunch over in Mill Valley at The Redwoods Community Senior Center. I drove because Waymo doesn't do the bridge and Lyft is rather expensive. Everything worked out perfectly and we all enjoyed ourselves. This is a well run facility, but you know I was happy to get back to my little home in Bernal Heights.

preparing for September, 2026

 Yesterday I spent an hour or two selecting my seats for next year in Ashland. Prices have gone up, no surprise there. My friend John is already talking "which restaurants?" and you know I'm on board there. If everything works out, the daughter of a friend will be in the cast and that will be extra wonderful.

a thousand year old poem

‘Tis a fearful thing

to love what death can touch.

A fearful thing

to love, to hope, to dream, to be –

to be,

And oh, to lose.

A thing for fools, this,

And a holy thing,

a holy thing

to love.

For your life has lived in me,

your laugh once lifted me,

your word was gift to me.

To remember this brings painful joy.

‘Tis a human thing, love,

a holy thing, to love

what death has touched.

— Yehuda Halevi
(With thanks to Ginger's sister, Amy, for sending this beautiful poem. So true. )

more Thanksgiving in photos and words

 Grandson Luke read this to keep us all on track for why we were gathered on this day:

"Thankfulness finds the full measure in generosity of presence, both through participation and witness. We sit at the table as part of every other person's world while making our own world without will or effort, this is what is extraordinary and gifted, this is the essence of gratefulness. Thanksgiving happens when our sense of presence meets all other presences."

~ David Whyte

if it takes forever I will wait for you

 Oh, my. Three exhausted older folks headed over to the Berkeley Art Museum to see the 1964 movie The Umbrellas of Cherbourg last night. First a bit of Chinese food before this French film. Doug and Barb were kind enough to include me in this outing which we all frankly thought about canceling and thank god we didn't. This is really an opera with nice big subtitles and so many beautiful colors and yes, dated, but in a good way. What a wonderful experience and I'm not one of those people who love old movies, but this is not to be missed, especially on the big screen. And now Annabelle is sick of me singing the title song...

Bay Bridge and beyond...

 Sister Jane and Melinda expressed an interest in Oakland and "the other bridge" so the Blogmaid was kind enough to drive us all over to Jack London Square where we had an unexpectedly good lunch at the Oakland Grill in the heart of the produce market there. All closed yesterday so the restaurant was almost empty, but surprisingly good food and a nice atmosphere. Then back home to chat with my next door neighbor, Cristina, who had one of my wine glasses that somehow strayed over there on Thanksgiving. Such a great photo of her, thanks to the Blogmaid. And also this last sister pic that I think captures both our bloodlines and our mutual enjoyment and appreciation of each other. Sis and Melinda are safely back in Maryland now. I already miss my sis ~ another really nice time. I am so lucky.